Northwest Fishing Reports

For you lure builders, I'm playing around with building some wooden lures and am in search of how to add rattles to a wood plug. I've found glass and brass rattles on-line and have built a couple simple plastic rattles, but would like to know, for those who've done it, what do you use? Seems like the store bought rattlebaits just have shot in their plastic bodies. I've read that both glass and brass rattles give better sound than plastic, but if it's embedded in a wood body, does it make a difference? Anyone have experience with this?

just a thought, if you are hollowing out a space in the plug and its big enough, how about a spend .45 casing, put it small shots and seal it up into the body?

That's a great idea Mike. Thanks. My rattle bait bodies are a little too thin for a .45, but other calibers would work great. A .22 might even work for my current attempt. I'll let you know how it goes.

Yea Mike thats a great idea! I was just thinking of a drill bit and 3 ball bearings. One bigger than the other 2.

I,ve used both plastic and glass rattles.I also drill holes in body then add small glass beads ,then cap it with small peices of lexan .When you put rattles in wood it changes the sound alot .And the more coatings you put over the wood also change the sound, but thats not a bad thing .Remember no one else will have your rattle

I like your approach of using the glass rattles. A quickly drilled hole to make, insert, and then seal. That sounds like a winning deal.

When I get around to making another bait, possibly a rattle trap type, I am going to try copper bbs.

If anyone tries them before me, I hope that they could give a review of how they like the bbs or not.

Thanks for the ideas. I looked around and unfortunately I have zero spent brass in my gear right now (with the exception of .300). Can't remember the last time I touched off the .22. Will have to put that on the list of things to do. :bom: In the mean time, I thought I might try my hand at making some glass rattles. I opened up a #2 waterfowl load for the shot. Should have looked at the chart beforehand as #2 isn't far removed from BB. Larger size than I'd expected, but still tried a couple in some glass tubes. The tubes I have are about 7mm in diameter and I tried stretching them out to thinner dimeters (4-5mm). Since I didn't have smaller shot, I used some small screws I had laying around. Turned out pretty good for a first try. Will try to get some pics posted soon. The thinner ones look like they'll work for rattletrap style lures and the bigger ones should work in bigger plugs and plastics.

I've never heard of a wooden lure that rattles. In fact, that's a FEATURE of wooden baits -- they are more subtle and work better when fish are feeling timid.

HillbillyGeek wrote:I've never heard of a wooden lure that rattles. In fact, that's a FEATURE of wooden baits -- they are more subtle and work better when fish are feeling timid.

Hillbilly,, long time no see/hear.:bounce:

The Quadfather wrote:

HillbillyGeek wrote:I've never heard of a wooden lure that rattles. In fact, that's a FEATURE of wooden baits -- they are more subtle and work better when fish are feeling timid.

Hillbilly,, long time no see/hear.:bounce:

I've been super busy. Last year I bought a 2-pole license and didn't go fishing at all.
It looks like this year will be different. My current contract ends on 4/28 and it may take a while to find a new gig.
Want to go fishing? I really want to hit Cassidy sometime soon. Even if the fish aren't biting, it's a beautiful lake. Plus, there's no bottom slime. :bounce:
Hmm... Storm lake opens soon. It's also slime-free and very scenic.

Speaking of rattles, what do you guys think about the "single knocker" vs BBs?

HillbillyGeek wrote:Speaking of rattles, what do you guys think about the "single knocker" vs BBs?

I can't speak from experience, but from what I read, it sounds like an "any given Sunday" type thing. It seems that both are successful pending the conditions, type of prey currently available, and presentation style.

BentRod wrote:Thanks for the ideas. I looked around and unfortunately I have zero spent brass in my gear right now (with the exception of .300). Can't remember the last time I touched off the .22. Will have to put that on the list of things to do. :bom: In the mean time, I thought I might try my hand at making some glass rattles. I opened up a #2 waterfowl load for the shot. Should have looked at the chart beforehand as #2 isn't far removed from BB. Larger size than I'd expected, but still tried a couple in some glass tubes. The tubes I have are about 7mm in diameter and I tried stretching them out to thinner dimeters (4-5mm). Since I didn't have smaller shot, I used some small screws I had laying around. Turned out pretty good for a first try. Will try to get some pics posted soon. The thinner ones look like they'll work for rattletrap style lures and the bigger ones should work in bigger plugs and plastics.

Anyone know what method is used to make these custom rattles?

I buy them already made, not worth my time or effort to make something that is so cheap to buy.

Its more about the fact that you can customize them for size, length and what's inside....